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In the waters west of Hawaii, a US Navy third fleet Aegis BMD destroyer
is on patrol. USS O'Kane, DDG-77
is the sea based element of the latest and most challenging
regional ballistic missile defense system operational test to date
FTM-15, Stellar Charon.
Going well beyond the original design used, FTM-15's primary objective
a first for Aegis BMD, is to lethaly intercept and intermediate range
ballistic missile
or IRBM with an SM-3 Blk IA missile launched from the
Aegis BMD equiped destroyer,
by using remote engagements authorized doctrine.
As part of the objective and AN/TPY-2 sensor operating in
forward based mode provides uprange track date processed and forwarded
by the joint command and control battle management and communications node
or C2BMC
at the US Pacific command in hawaii,
thus confirming go forward based architecture of the Phased Adaptive
Approach Phase I initial capability
against potential short and medium range ballistic missile threats. The fire
control solution for Aegis BMD is developed on board USS O'kane
by using accurate target position and velocity data
from the army TPY-2 ground radar on Wake Island and C2BMC in hawaii.
Navy operators on O'Kane and Army operators on Wake Island have no
knowledge of target launch time.
Due to the longer flight of the IRBM two ranges participate:
the Pacific Missile Range Facility, PMRF on Kauai, and the
MDA Reagan Test Site, RTS Kwajelein Atoll Launch Complex.
After a period of time at sea on BMD patrol,
intelligence reports indicate space warning red.
O'Kane is placed on high alert for an imminent launch of a hostile
ballistic missile.
Thousands of miles away an IRBM launches from Meck Island
on Kwajelein's RTS.
Downrange on Wake Island, the Army TPY-2 radar first detects the IRBM as it
climbs into space.
Then sends its track report to a distance C2BMC over satellite link.
C2BMC processes the TPY-2 track data and transmits accurate target
position and velocity to O'Kane
via Link-16.
The ship with auto BMD remote engagements authorized enabled
then computes a fire control solution with the information received.
O'Kane's currently deployed Aegis BMD 3.6.1 weapon system
launches an SM-3 Blk IA
automatically.
As it climbs to intercept it's ballistic missile target,
O'Kane's Aegis BMD systems switches from remote
to local IRBM track data,
using its own SPY-1 radar data,
and continues to provide in-flight updates to the SM-3 missile.
The SM-3 KW acquires the IRBM.
A lethal IRBM
target intercept.
Another successful intercept by Aegis BMD.
A tremendous accomplishment by the MDA, Navy, Army and the entire
integrated BMDS team.
FMT-15 confirms that Aegis BMD
can intercept short to intermediate range ballistic missiles operating
independently and that you can also operating as part of a remotely
integrated ballistic missile defense system intercepting targets using
remote sensor data
are crucial capabilities in the potentially defense or Europe.
BMDS
Aegis BMD
Proven success once again. Tested, working,
deployed on BMD patrol in the Pacific, Persian Gulf and Mediterranean today.
today